| mbm135 |
I went to start the 05 Pilot today and there was just a spinning or whizzing noise, the instrument cluster lights all went crazy and the engine would not crank at all. Car has just under 37,000 miles--just out of warranty.
I tried several more times, same result, just a loud spinning/clicking noise. After a few more tries it started. I took it to a Checker Auto parts since it was closeby and had them check the battery. I dared to turn it off and it started again normally. The battery checked out fine, the technician recommended having Honda check/replace the starter.
Does this sound like a starter about to go bad? If so, is this an easy part to replace on my own? I'll admit I'm not even sure where it is located.
Help! |
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| humanoid |
Do you still have the OEM battery? If, so you may need a new one. The symptoms you're describing sound like a dead battery.
Are the battery cables corroded? |
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| mbm135 |
Yes, the OEM battery is still installed. But, according to the voltage check it was good--unless the technician did it wrong.
Again, the engine was not trying to crank at all, just a clicking sound. Maybe I will have the battery replaced tomorrow, it couldn't hurt as a preventive maintnenance task anyhow and then go from there. |
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| humanoid |
| Yeah, the battery would be a good start. I had my battery crap out on me 2 months after my factory warranty expired. |
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| N_Jay |
quote:
Originally posted by mbm135
Yes, the OEM battery is still installed. But, according to the voltage check it was good--unless the technician did it wrong.
Again, the engine was not trying to crank at all, just a clicking sound. Maybe I will have the battery replaced tomorrow, it couldn't hurt as a preventive maintenance task anyhow and then go from there.
Sounds like a bad battery, or at l;east a discharged one. Could a light have been left on?
Did he do the voltage test under load? |
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| Sportymonk |
The clicking sounds like a weak battery. The spinning sound may be a bad bendix in the starter. Watch out if it is. I had a 72 Pinto and it wouldnt' start sometimes. Starter spun. Everybody said it was the bendix and it was "easy" to fix. Just take the three bolts out that hold the starter to the flywheel. Then thake the two bolts (long) that hold the end or cap of the starter on. Pull the bendix out, put the new bendix in. Reverse to reassemble. Easy right? WRONG!!
Took the three bolts out. Pulled on the starer. Wlouldn't come out the bottom. Maybe the top. No luck. Maybe around the header. No luck. After many futile tries, I decided to simply lay on the ground and take the lid of the staer off and replace the bendix there. Easy right? WRONG!
Took the two long bolts out. SPRONG! Clips, springs and other assorted parts come out and I didn't see where they came from or in what position they were oriented.
Call for a tow truck. Local shop fixed it. I described what I was told and what I did. I asked what I did wrong. He chuckled and told me it would havve worked EXCEPT on Pintos the starter won't clear the engine unless you loosen the motor mounts and jack the engine up approximately 2 inches. :eek: :3:
Forgot what it cost to repair but the point of all this is, make sure that if it is the starter, that you find out if there are any little "ought to know "things before its too late.
Good luck. Hope it is the battery but the spinning sound worries me. Clicking is definitely the battery. |
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| rocky |
| Yes bad starter. Get it fixed before it dies totally |
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| N_Jay |
quote:
Originally posted by rocky
Yes bad starter. Get it fixed before it dies totally
Or the battery (or state of charge), . . . . .
. . . . . . but some people are confident in their assumptions. |
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| mbm135 |
Battery was tested under load. Will have it replaced in the AM anyway. The terminals do look a bit corroded, but not aweful.
Starter could also be bad, if it is will just have to replace it. It seems a bit premature for this part to go bad at this mileage but possible I guess. I'm sure it will be hundreds to replace plus a tow. I have owned Hondas for over 20 years and never had to take one in for a repair or been left stranded. Perhaps my good luck is over.
Is there a way for a mechanic to diagnose the starter as having a fault without having to simply replace it?
Biggest lesson learned: Buy an extended warranty, they don't build them like they used to. |
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| mbm135 |
Battery was tested under load. Will have it replaced in the AM anyway. The terminals do look a bit corroded, but not aweful.
Starter could also be bad, if it is will just have to replace it. It seems a bit premature for this part to go bad at this mileage but possible I guess. I'm sure it will be hundreds to replace plus a tow. I have owned Hondas for over 20 years and never had to take one in for a repair or been left stranded. Perhaps my good luck is over.
Is there a way for a mechanic to diagnose the starter as having a fault without having to simply replace it?
Biggest lesson learned: Buy an extended warranty, they don't build them like they used to. |
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| mbm135 |
quote:
Originally posted by N_Jay
Could a light have been left on?
Yes, I discovered that one of the cargo area lights was on today. Children. I suspect it has been on for a while and placing a drain on the battery. Given the tinted glass it was not discovered at night while parked in the garage. Vehicle has not been driven at night for a while either, so I'm sure it went unnoticed. Battery replaced, hopefully this was the problem. |
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| N_Jay |
quote:
Originally posted by mbm135
Yes, I discovered that one of the cargo area lights was on today. Children. I suspect it has been on for a while and placing a drain on the battery. Given the tinted glass it was not discovered at night while parked in the garage. Vehicle has not been driven at night for a while either, so I'm sure it went unnoticed. Battery replaced, hopefully this was the problem.
Wonder if the battery was not bad.
Did you try charging it up, or jump-starting the car and then driving a while? |
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| mbm135 |
| I"ll bet the batt would have been OK but I'm having the 30K service done anyhow soon I just decided to put a Sears Die Hard Gold in for good measure, Colorado winters start in Sept here. I'm sure I could've waited but oh well. We need to try and get 10 yrs out of this baby and I like to fix things before they break. |
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